Canada and Saudi Arabia began sparring last week when a Canadian official spoke out against the recent arrest of a Saudi human rights activist.

After Saudi authorities arrested women's rights activist Samar Badawi last week, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland tweeted that Canada "stands together" with Badawi and her detained sister, who is also an activist, Raif Badawi.

Saudi Arabia responded by suspending flights between the two countries, removing thousands of Saudi students studying at Canadian schools and withdrawing the Saudi ambassador to Canada, Reuters reported.

The kingdom also expelled the Canadian ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

Samar Badawi was the first woman to sue the government over the right to vote, and sued her father to block him from preventing her from marrying the man of her choice, ABC reported. Her sister Raif was jailed for creating a website called "Free Saudi Liberals" that was critical of the government.

"We continue to encourage the government of Saudi Arabia to ensure all are afforded due process and to provide information on the charges and case status of legal actions against activists," the anonymous spokeswoman told AFP.

Ottawa has long refused to deepen ties with the Saudi government over the country's track record on human rights.